Since June 1, we’ve seen dozens of price reductions from Aspen to Carbondale on everything from single-family homes to condos and lots. We’ve also seen our fair share of contracts falling out, especially midvalley homes priced in the upper 2s and over $3 million. More buyers seem reluctant to shell out “mansion money” for 3,000 square feet.

We’re also seeing more listings than sales as sellers position themselves to take advantage of the busy summer season at the same time the tourists and visitors they hope to attract wait for prices to drop and more choices to come to market.

While not necessarily good news for those listing now and folks like me who make money when deals close, it is a healthy shift for the market as a whole, eventually realigning buyers and sellers and stimulating more activity.

Life in the modern world is always evolving, changing, and by its very nature is a dynamic creature. Prior to the COVID-19 age, that “fluid” status quo was more or less predictable, expected and manageable. But since weathering the pandemic, and now that the worse seems to be behind us, the “new normal” — at least since the beginning of the year — is even more an unpredictable landscape of wild swings, record highs and lows, all in a very compressed period of time.

The past few months have seen a number of “only in Aspen” headlines; many related to a topic a colleague of mine recently described as “beyond rational.” In a year we hoped to see the demise of our persistent, uninvited viral guest, real estate has remained newsworthy, to the delight of some and disgust of others.

What caught my attention were the number of “ads,” not of local listings but rather what I call “the award show.” Broker after broker announcing their accolades for their performance last year — double-black diamond, platinum, pinnacle, inner circle, etc. And just like the red carpet, the pics of the top producers harken Hollywood with coifed hair, in the latest fashion and striking a pose.

Frankly, I find it embarrassing as I know of no other industry that touts its achievements in such a showy fashion and so many receiving the same award. Further, I would bet the general public finds it as ridiculous as it is inconsequential, not to mention a strong incentive to thumb to the next section.

Those of us in the local realty game who did manage to open a laptop last week and check the hot sheet, likely noticed 10 significant sales in Aspen Snowmass since the first of February. Those 10 properties ranged in price from $10 million to $41 million. That’s right, 10 homes, three weeks, representing more than $166 million of inventory. Top of the leaderboard was Four Peaks Ranch in Old Snowmass.

I think we all thought 2022 would be different. That goes without saying really. After all, the point of every New Year is that it be “new” and offer a fresh start and perspective. But I have to tell ‘ya, at least in terms of the Bayens household, we’ve had a doozie of a first month and are still trying to catch our breath and find our stride. And from what I hear and been seeing, we are not alone.